Lanier Trying To Put More Zip In Attack

March 7, 1986|By Michael Griffin of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — Hal Lanier looks like an honest enough guy, but he's spending a lot of his time these days teaching the fine art of thievery.

The first-year Astros manager is determined turn his team into a contender for the National League Western Division title and he plans to do it with aggressive base running. ''I'm giving the base runners the green light this year,'' Lanier said. ''We're looking at scoring runs and scoring them early to put some pressure on opposing pitchers.''

The Astros were second in the National League in runs scored last season, but they couldn't turn those runs into victories. The Astros finished third in the west behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. ''Our record last year shows you how misleading the runs statistic is,'' Lanier said. ''If you want to be successful in this game you're going to have to score first and keep the opposing defense honest. Anytime a ballclub scores first they're one up on the defense.''

The manager comes by his kleptomaniacal tendencies through his years as a coach with the St. Louis Cardinals. Under the wing of manager Whitey Herzog, Lanier watched as the Cardinals batted, bunted and stole their way to a World Championship in 1980 and a National League Pennant in 1985.

''We don't have the Cardinals' speed,'' Lanier admitted, ''but speed is only a part of base stealing. I think we know that aggressiveness is the key.''

Lanier's biggest worry going into the 1986 campaign is the inexperience of his pitching staff. For the first time in a decade, the Astros won't have Joe Niekro as the cornerstone of its starting rotation. ''We've only got three veterans in Bob Knepper, Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan and that leaves us with youngsters in two key starting spots.

Lanier said he's got some good young prospects, but he'd prefer to make a trade for a veteran hurler. ''I'd like to give the young guys a chance, but if we can improve ourselves with a trade I think we should,'' Lanier said. ''One of the kids could have a great spring, but four vets in the rotation could stop a long losing streak.''

It is Niekro's consistency that Lanier says the Astros are going to miss the most.

''The biggest assett Joe held for us was that you could count on him to throw every fifth day,'' said Nolan Ryan, the designated old man on the block since Niekro's absence. The 39-year-old right-hander isn't making any claims to the team's leadership spot.

''I don't think about that stuff,'' Ryan said. ''The way to lead is through example and it's going to be up to the veterans to pitch some solid games and keep us close.

''It's going to be tough to fill Joe's shoes, and I think anybody'd be crazy to say they were going to try,'' he said.

Lanier said he was happy with the team's performance in camp. ''The hitters are at a point now that I wouldn't expect them to reach for a few more weeks,'' he said. ''They're getting around on the pitchers faster and they're tagging some good hits. They're picking up the bunt well and I'm pleased with the defense.